Tropical Storm Bertha began making landfall on the US Gulf Coast Wednesday afternoon, prompting warnings to millions about flooding and power outages in the hours ahead.
AccuWeather reported that Bertha started impacting the Alabama and Louisiana coasts around 1pm ET Wednesday. The storm currently has sustained winds of 45 mph and is expected to keep moving over southeastern Louisiana at tropical storm strength throughout the day. Experts fear its path along the Gulf could help it gain strength as it moves west.
AccuWeather said in a statement that if the center shifts south or a new center develops over the Gulf, Bertha could begin to reorganize before reaching the Texas coast.
The National Weather Service has issued tropical storm warnings across a 500-mile stretch covering the Florida Panhandle, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas. Meteorologists predict the storm will hug the coastline, making multiple landfalls in both Louisiana and Texas throughout the week.
Double red flag warnings have already closed beaches and submerged cars parked along the waterfront in Alabama. Officials said the storm has caused extreme, life-threatening hazards including severe rip currents and rough surf. Major cities in the storm's path include New Orleans, Mobile, Biloxi and Houston, which face dangerous wind gusts, several inches of rain, localized flooding and hazardous storm surges along beachfront areas.
Rainfall and flooding risks
AccuWeather meteorologist Breanna Grill said the exact track of Bertha could still fluctuate over the next couple of days, but heavy rainfall and hazardous marine conditions are expected regardless of the storm's path. Up to eight inches of rain is expected across the Florida Panhandle on Wednesday, which could trigger deadly flash floods as Bertha nears the coast.
AccuWeather lead hurricane expert Alex DaSilva warned that the longer the slow-moving storm lingers around the coastline, the higher the chances of severe flooding and life-threatening conditions. DaSilva said Bertha may not be a major hurricane, but slow-moving tropical systems like it can be just as disruptive. He advised people in Louisiana still recovering from Arthur to check drainage around their property, avoid driving through standing water, and have a way to get updates if conditions change quickly.
Louisiana has activated its emergency operations center as the storm nears. The Governor's Office urged residents to check their emergency supplies, warning that strong winds could result in power outages, and to check on friends or loved ones who may need assistance. Officials with the National Weather Service added that boaters and coastal residents face severe risk this week, as Bertha is capable of capsizing and damaging vessels as it strengthens and moves west.
Second landfall expected in Texas
Tropical Storm Bertha brought high surf, storm surge and coastal flooding advisories to Alabama's Gulf Coast on Tuesday evening, creating hazardous shoreline conditions. Marinas along the Louisiana coast were largely deserted Tuesday ahead of storm surges, which are predicted to exceed three feet when Bertha reaches land.
A second landfall is expected to strike the Texas coast late Thursday night into Friday morning, hitting the upper Texas coast between Galveston and the Sabine River-Beaumont area.
The storm is expected to have weakened by then but is still predicted to bring heavy rain, gusty winds, coastal flooding and dangerous rip currents. Meteorologists noted the Gulf may be spared a severe impact thanks to extreme wind shear blowing south from the northern US, which is slamming into Bertha and pushing thunderstorms away from the shore.
AccuWeather senior meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said that if Bertha were to remain over southern Louisiana and not make it back to the Gulf, much of its circulation could diminish before reaching Texas, and the storm would quickly transition from a tropical depression to a tropical rainstorm. Meteorologist Max Velocity said in a social media post Wednesday afternoon that Bertha was looking worse for wear as thunderstorms continued to be blasted away from the center of circulation. However, these winds may also push Bertha farther south, giving the storm a chance to regain strength using the warm waters of the Gulf as fuel.
The last named storm to make landfall in the US was Tropical Storm Chantal in July 2025. The last named storm to strike Louisiana was Hurricane Francine in 2024.
Extreme heat adds to danger
At the same time as millions brace for a direct hit from Bertha, potentially deadly heat continues to grip the entire region in the storm's path. An extreme heat warning has been issued across all of Louisiana, western Mississippi and eastern Texas, with temperatures expected to rise into the upper 90s and the heat index reaching as high as 118 degrees Fahrenheit.
The heat index is the "feels like" temperature, which rises higher when the air is more humid. The National Weather Service urged residents to use air conditioning if they have it, warning that fans may not be adequate, and advised wearing light-weight, light-colored clothing and staying hydrated.
